What Batteries do people use in their 67 Elan S3 in the US?

[pcarew]

It is time for me to ge a new battery for my S3 Elan.


I live in Austin, Tx. and I have always had trouble finding something that is compatible with the original Lotus hold down clamps.

I end up typically cutting grooves in the side of plastic case (on the battery ends) for the Lotus mounting clamps to hold onto.

I have never been happy with doing this.

The battery I have right now, that has come to the end of it's life, is an Energizer 51R. It is the right size and has the correct connection posts, but doesn't have any 'hold down' ledges that the Lotus clamps can hold on to.

I'm looking for a better choice that is available here in the US.

Would people please volunteer their battery type and if you have used a non
standard clamping system, please describe what you have.

Thanks

Paul.
67 Elan S3SE
Austin,
Texas.

[elansprint71]

I don't know what is available in the US but last time I bought a battery I went to the local Varta dealer and asked for the most powerful diesel-car battery they had in that size. iirc it came from a Ford Focus. No idea if that is of any help.

[elanern]

On my 1970 S4 I use the same battery that I use in my riding lawn mower - from Autozone, a U1-1. Has enough power to start mine every time. Not sure if 1967 and 1970 share the same battery location configuration, mine mounts in the left rear of the trunk (boot).
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Lawn-and-Garden-12-Volts-230-CCA-285-CA-lawn-mower-battery/_/N-262z?counter=0&filterByKeyWord=u1-1&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=960005_0_0_

The U1-1 is smaller than an Interstate 51R: width is similar (U1-1 is 5.19" vs. 5.13"), length is shorter (7.75" vs. 9.38"), height is shorter (7.31" vs. 8.88"). I made my own bracket using the original bobbin mounting locations. The lawn mower battery interestingly has the same "flat" terminals as on the battery cables - no need to add replacement battery clamps for round battery terminals, just bolt the cables to the battery using 1/4" nuts & bolts. CCA are less (230 vs. 500), but my car is for recreational use only.

Hope this helps.

EDITED to add a picture. The bracket (actually one for each end) fits tightly around the battery and I am thinking of ways to add a hold down strap this winter for extra security.

[69S4]

I put an Odyssey PC680 in my S4 when the last cheepie battery packed up 2 1/2 yrs ago. OK it's half the size of the battery the Elan was designed to take so some DIY needed to make up clamps but it's made a huge difference to starting as the engine cranks much quicker. I swap it over to run a couple of my motorcycles to get the most out of it. Expensive but definitely worth it.

[gjz30075]

For my Sprint, I use a Napa 5045. Fits like a glove using oem hold downs.

Greg Z

[pcarew]

For my Sprint, I use a Napa 5045. Fits like a glove using oem hold downs.

Greg Z

Thanks Greg, great suggestion.
From the NAPA web page, it certainly looks like it will do the job.

The one q. I have is which way round are the posts?
On my car, I have the positive post (which is a short cable) towards the front of the car and the negative towards the back.


I couldn't determine from the NAPA website which way round the posts were oriented.

[lotusS2guy]

I use an Odyssey (I forget which model) in my S2 and it fits very nicely inside the fibreglass battery case behind the passenger's seat. The beauty of this battery is that it is sealed, so it can be mounted on its side if you like. Also, it does not emit any acid fumes. For years, I ran a lead-acid battery without the battery case, and the fumes ate the stitching in my top. Finally, the Odyssey thrives on non-use. You can put your car up for the winter and not bother with a float charger. In the spring, it will start right up. Expensive, yes....but worth it.

Herb
26/4618

[gjz30075]

For my Sprint, I use a Napa 5045. Fits like a glove using oem hold downs.

Greg Z

The one q. I have is which way round are the posts?
On my car, I have the positive post (which is a short cable) towards the front of the car and the negative towards the back.

The Napa battery has the negative post toward the front of the car. The positive post is a tight fit under the body but this works for me because I have one of those green knobbed turn offs on the negative post and this arrangement gives me room to access it.

The positive cable goes from the post over the top of the battery, then forward up into the body work. Sorry, the car's apart now so I can't provide pics but both cables hug the inner body and gives a very neat finish.

Greg Z

[archigator]

I always liked the look of this battery tray, but since it's night time right now, and the Broncos game is on, I can't measure to tell you if it fits. Here is their description, with dimensions. Otherwise, one could probably be easily fabricated to fit an Elan:

http://www.cobraautomotive.com/new%20products.htm

"Cobra Automotive's exclusive Battery Tray is designed to mount a Group 24 size battery in the passenger side of a 1965 thru 1973 Mustang trunk but can also be adapted to a variety of applications. This tray measures 12.75" long x 7.5" wide x 8.5" high and weighs just under 2.5 lbs. Features a side bracket and a hold down than can be mounted two ways to accommodate different style battery tops. Fabricated from laser cut, CNC formed .090" thick aluminum and finished in Silver powder coat for long lasting attractive appearance. Battery NOT included."

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

[mac5777]

Hi Paul, My 1966 Elan S3 Coupe had a tractor battery and I found a Bosch battery that fit just perfect with the normal terminals. I used a off the shelf top piece that use the existing standard Elan tie downs. PEP Boys has them and they just replaced a bad cell after 2 1/2 years at no charge with another 3 year warranty.
It took me awhile to find the right size battery that had the power.

Hope that helps,
Sarto

[StressCraxx]

The hold-down clamps are Ford.

The 22NF battery that Roger refers to is a 60's era Ford battery, used in the Cortina and Falcon.

I just bought a Oddysey PC680 AGM gel cell battery for my Elan. It weighs only 13-1/2 lbs. It can be installed in any position and it won't lose its acid.

I have one installed in my Zink Z10 Formula Ford in a total loss system. It will start and run the car for a two race weekend without recharging. I had an off with the FF at Thunderhill that pushed the battery into the master cylinders. The case was punctured but did not leak. Even though the case was punctured, it still cranked the engine and started so I did not need a tow to get back to the paddock.

[elancoupe]

I would like to use the Odyssey 680, but from what I can see in the pictures, the terminal location is the opposite of what I currently have.

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

I use an Odyssey battery mounted on it's side so the cables are low. I then made a fiberglass box to go over it and hold it in place. The box has flanges that screw to the stock bobbins. I made the fiberglass box using the cardboard box the battery came in as a mold. It works great doesn't self discharge over the winter and doesn't leak. It also weighs half the stock size battery.

I can't remember which model it is, but it is the same as the one my wife's Alfa (former race car) came with.

Rob

[pcarew]

Thanks to everyone for some great suggestions and for sharing their setups.

[jk952]

While the subject of batteries, although maybe a mod??, but has anyone used the light weight lithium type batteries? Not that much more expensive than a good battery.
jk